Method and apparatus for pumping fluids



Dec. 29, 1936. G. K. PARKER 2,065,926

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING FLUIDS Original Filed Oct. 22, 1934 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. dun a W Wm A TTORN YS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUMPING FLUIDS George K. Parker, Escalon, Calif.

Application October 22, 1934, Serial No. 749,404 Renewed May 9, 1936 17 Claims. (Cl. 10375) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for pumping fluids.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for pumping fluids whereby the fluid body being pumped is counterbalanced. Inertial movement of the fluid body is utilized to induce flow of an additional volume of fluid into said body and surges in the fluid body are employed to assist the movement of a piston or a similar driving element when the pump is operating.

Apparatus whereby the method of pumping may be accomplished is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

5 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus whereby the pumping of fluids may be accomplished.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showing another form of apparatus whereby pumping may be accomplished.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing another form of apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cam drive employed in conjunction with the pumping apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the cam drive shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly Fig. 1, A indicates a pumping conduit and B a balancing conduit. The conduits are connected at their lower ends by a cylinder 2 and at their upper ends by a tank or reservoir 3 which serves to maintain the conduits completely filled with water or other fluid, and which also functions as an overflow or discharge for the fluid being pumped.

Both conduits and the bodies of fluid constrained therein are in communication with the cylinder 2 but are divided or separated with 40 relation to each other by a piston A which is driven by an engine generally indicated at C in a manner hereinafter to be described. Conduit A extends as indicated at 5 below the cylinder 2 into a source of supply, such as shown at 6,

4;, the source of supply being the water or other fluid to be pumped or elevated to the tank 3. A check valve 2'' is mounted in the extension 5 and functions in the usual manner; that is, it automatically opens when suction is applied and conversely closes when subjected to pressure.

The engine indicate at C may be driven by any suitable fluid medium under pressure, such as air, steam, etc. It consists of a cylinder 8 in which is mounted a piston 9, this piston being connected with the pump piston 4 by means of a rod H]. Two inlet valves I! and I2 are provided and similarly two exhaust or discharge valves l3 and M.

In actual operation, let it be assumed that movement of the piston i in the direction of arrow a will accelerate the body of fluid in con duit A in an upward direction and the body of fluid in conduit B in a downward direction, and that said accelerating movements are simultaneous. In that case the piston travel will be the accelerating distance and it also must be assumed that this distance is equal to the deaccelerating distance of the bodies in the conduits A and B.

When the piston stops, the acceleration of the bodies A and B will cease but both bodies will continue to travel due to inertia, but de acceleration will immediately commence the moment movement of the piston ceases. The body A will, during inertial or de-accelerating movement,

'continue to flow upward. Fluid in the conduit B will impinge against the piston which is at rest and will reverse its intial'direction and also flow upward so that while (lo-accelerating, both bodies A and B are simultaneously flowing upward with diminishing velocity away from the piston for a period of time and through a distance required by the force of gravity to bring the bodies at rest.

While both bodies simultaneously or substantially so are de-accelerating and traveling in an upward direction, a partial vacuum is formed at each side of the piston. During this period, the piston is substantially in static equilibrium and while in this state may be readily returned to its starting point, thus completing onecycle of operation, providing that the accelerating and return travelvoi the piston are each equal to the ole-accelerating distance of the bodies A and B. The accelerating time for the piston being governed artificially by the engine C may be as desired but the return movement of the piston must be in phase with body B de-accelerating, and this is governed by the force of gravity. Hence, it is essential that the piston, while returning, should closely follow body B while de- --.Dur1ng thede accelerating movement of body B, p1ston4c is returned and the cycle of opera-' tion is completed. The'movement. of the piston.

7 of arrow a.

The. travel of the piston the direction of arrow a commences from the position shown in 7 full lines in Fig. l where the piston is at rest.

The movement is thus slow to commence'with V V but'the speed is graduallyiaccelerated until the :The operation of the form of apparatus shown 7 driving; enginej indicated at C The upper ends piston reaches its maximum speed at the end of the stroke. For this reason, the inlet valve I2 is controlled so thatthe movement of the pistons 9 and 4 will bean accelerating movement with 'maximum speed at the end of the stroke. The'return stroke takes place'during the upward de-accelerating movement of the body B and as this movement is rapid; valve I I will be fully opened so as toreturn the piston V are again illustrated at A and B. They are connected at their lower ends by a cylinder in which is mounted a piston 25.

as quickly as possible, the movement, however, being in phase with thede-accelerating movement. The exhaust valve 13 is open when valve I2'is open and conversely exhaust valve I4 is open when the inlet valve I l is open; The exhaust valves may be fully. opened during each 7 1 stroke of the piston so as to reduce resistance to a minimum but valves H and (2 maybe gradually and then fully opened to produce the piston movement desired. r r

in Fig. 2 is substantiallythe same. The construction is different. The cylinder containing the driving piston indicated at his mounted at theupper end of the conduit B and so is the of the conduits A and B are connected by a pipe The pipe I! and both conduits are extended below the pipe H, as shown at l8 and I9, and'the extensions areprovided' with check valves20 and It should also be noted that a balanced valve is placed at the point indicated at 22 and that this is actuated by means of a pair of 24 is'energized, the valve is moved in the direc-' tion of arrow b and is opened, and when the magnet 23 energized, the valve is movedin the direction Opposite to .the arrow b and is closed. The operation will be as follows:

' When the piston is moved by the' engine in ,the direction of arrow 0, check valve |6 will close. Body B will move in a downward directionand as the valve 22 is open, there will be a flow through the pipe l1 and there will also bea flow in an upward direction in the conduit A. At'the end ofv the stroke of the piston 40,

tionimparted to it by piston 40 in column B, and a lower pressure areais created in the passage l1 and around the valve 2|, causing the same to'open and liquid will accordingly be admitted. The downwardly moving liquid in column B rebounds the moment valve 22 closes and there is an upward surging movement in column B. Column B is-in communication with pipe I!) and as there will be a reduced pressure area-producedtherein due to'the upwardly surging movement in 'column'B liquid will be admitted. Y c

is rapid and in phase with the de-accelerating movement and the check valve lfi will accord that moment it opens and. acceleratingmove ment'is again imparted to the bodies A and B in the directions'previously described, 'andwhen the piston reaches the end of its accelerating stroke, valve 22 closes and the cycle-of operation is repeated.- I

Inasmuchas the opening and closing of the valve 22 must besynchronousyw'ith the move ment of the piston74c, any'suitable means operthat the valve '22 is opened and closed at the proper time periods. V r

In the structure shown in Fig. 3, the conduits The upper ends of the conduits are connected by a tank or reservoir 21 and the lower ends of the conduits are both extended, as shown at 28' and 29, into able from the engineC may be employed for V alternately energizing the magnets. 23 and 24 so the source of supply shown at 30. Check valves are mounted in these extensions as shown at 3land 32 and these function as will hereinafter be described. The piston 26 is secured to a rod 33. This extends completely through the cylon oppositesides of theyoke and these are-provided with rollers which engage the respective cams, these rollers being arranged in pairs'and being indicated at 4040 and 4|'4I.

The shaft 36 isdriven in-any suitable manner, and during such rotation, it should be assumedthat the cams engage the rollers 4|. If that is the case, movement will be imparted to the rod 33 and the piston 26 in the direction of arrowa. This movement will be an accelerating movement; thatis, the piston will move from a point of rest to the opposite end of its stroke and the movement will -be an accelerating movement reachingits maximum speed at the opposite end of the stroke,

ward direction and to the fluid-in the conduit B in a downward direction. The fluid in conduit'B will impinge against the piston when it comes to rest and the flow will reverse, causing a slight suction action which opens the check valve 32.

and thereby admits an additionalvolume of fluid from the source of supply. The fluid in conduit A continues to move and, as previously described,

Accelerating movement is thus. I imparted to the fluid in the conduit A in an 'up-- in an upward direction by inertial movement 1 with an impact of. considerable force, this force being utilized to start movement of the piston when it isrreturned to its original position shown at 26 in Fig. 3. .The cams are at the same time timed so that they will engage the rollers -48; and as the cams are shaped to produce an ac-- celerating movement, the movement started'by:

impact action is accelerated and the 7 piston reaches its maximum speed when the end of the c stroke is attained. The accelerating movement is thus imparted to the bodies of fluid in the conduits in the direction opposite to that previously described and the same cycles of operation will take place but in a reverse order to that just described, and when body 'B resurges, the piston will again receive an impact blow which starts it moving in the direction of arrow 0.. Hence, both conduits are in this instance used as pumping conduits and the resurging movement of the fluid in the conduits is employed to initiate and assist in imparting movement to the piston.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that a method of pumping fluids has been developed whereby a body of fluid being pumped or elevated will first of all, be counterbalanced. Secondly, inertial movement of the fluid in the conduits is utilized to induce the flow of an additional volume of fluid into said conduits and resurges in the fluid bodies are employed to initiate and assist movement of the piston or a similar driving element when the pump is operating.

In view of the fact that the method is capable of employing a variety of forms of apparatus, diagrammatic illustration has been resorted to and while other features have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of pumping fluids which consists in maintaining a constrained body of fluid, imparting a gradual accelerating movement to said body of fluid in one direction which reaches a maximum at the end of the movement and utilizing the resultant energy of inertial movement of said body of fluid to induce an additional volume of fluid into the said body of fluid.

2. A method of pumping fluids which consists in maintaining a constrained body of fluid, placing a driving member in said body, applying energy to move the driving member and the body of fluid in one direction a predetermined distance, said movement being an accelerating movement and reaching maximum speed at the end of the movement, and utilizing the resultant} energy of inertial movement of the body of fluid to induce an additional volume of fluid into the body.

3. A method of pumping fluids which consists in maintaining a constrained body of fluid, placing a driving member in said body, applying energy to move the driving member and the body of fluid in one direction a predetermined distance, utilizing the resultant energy of inertial movement of the body of fluid to induce an additional volume of fluid into the body, and returning the driving member to its initial position during said inertial movement of the body to induce a second additional volume of fluid into the body.

4. A method of pumping fluids which consists of maintaining two constrained bodies of fluid balanced in relation to each other, imparting movement in the same direction to said bodies said movement being an accelerating movement and reaching maximum speed at the end of the movement, and utilizing the resultant energy of inertial movement of one of the bodies to induce an additional volume of fluid into that body and the resultant energy of inertial movement of the other body to reverse its initial direction of flow.

5. A method of pumping fluids which consists of maintainingtwo constrained bodies of fluid balanced in relation to each other, placing a displacement means in said bodies, moving the displacement means and the bodies of fluid in one direction a predetermined distance, utilizing the resultant energy of inertial movement of one of the bodies to induce an additional volume of fluid into that body and the resultant energy of inertial movement of the other body to reverse the direction of initial movement thereof, and returning the displacement means to its initial position during the inertial movement of the bodies to induce a second additional volume of fluid into the bodies.

6. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a conduit containing a fluid, said conduit being connected at one end with a source or" fluid supply, a check valve in said connection, and means for imparting movement to the fluid in the conduit in one direction, said movement being an accelerating movement and reaching maximum speed at the end of the movement, said means operating intermittently to permit inertial movement of the fluid in the conduit sothat the inertial movement of the fluid will produce a suction to open theicheck valve and induce flow of fluid from the source of supply into the conduit.

'7. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a conduit containing a fluid, said conduit being connected at one end with a source of fluid supply, a check valve in said connection, a cylinder in communication with the conduit on the effluent side of the check valve, and a piston in said cylinder for imparting movement to the fluid in the conduit in one direction, said movement being an accelerating movement and reaching maximum speed at the end of the movement, said piston operating intermittently to permit inertial movement of the fluid in the conduit while the piston remains at rest so that the inertial movement of the fluid will produce a suction to open the check valve and induce a flow of fluid from the source of supply into the conduit.

8. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a conduit containing a fluid, said conduit being conected at one end with a source of fluid supply, a check valve in said connection, a cylinder in communication with the conduit on the efiluent side of they check valve, a piston in said cylinder, means for imparting an accelerating movement to the piston and the fluid in the conduit in one direction and abruptly bring the piston to rest at the end of the stroke when the accelerating movement reaches a predetermined maximum speed so as to permit inertial movement of the fluid in the conduit so that a suction will be produced to open the check valve and induce flow of fluid from the source of supply into the conduit.

9. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a conduit containing a fluid, said conduit being connected at one end with a source of fluid supply, a check valve in said connection, a cylinder in communication with the conduit on the effluent side of the check valve, 2. piston in the conduit in one direction and abruptly bring the piston to rest at the end of the stroke when the accelerating movement reaches a pre- 7 determined maximum speed so as to permit inertial movement of the fluid in the conduit so that a. suction will be produced to open the check valveand induce flow of fluid from the source of supply into 'the conduit, and means for returning the piston to its initial position during saidinertial movement of the fluid in the conduit sot that an additionalsuctionaction is produced to induce further flow from the source of supply into the conduit; 7

'10. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a pair of conduits containing a fluid and balanced with relation to each other, one of said conduits being connected with a source of fluid supply, a check valve in-said connection, a cylinder connecting the conduits on the efiluent side of the check valves, a piston disposed in said 7 cylinder, means for imparting an accelerating movement to the piston and the fluid'in the V in the last-named conduit.

conduits in one direction and abruptly bringing the piston to a rest at theend of its stroke when the accelerating movement of the piston reaches a predetermined-maximum' speed so as to. permit inertial movement of the fluid in the con- ,duits, said inertial movement of the fluid in one producing a suction to open; the a check valve and toproduce flow of fluid from the source of supply into said conduit. 11. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a pairof conduits containing a fluid and balanced with relationto each other, one of said conduits being connected with a' source of fluid 1 supply, 'a check' valve in said connection, a'cylinder connecting the conduits'on the effluent side of the check valves,- a piston disposed in said cylinder, means for imparting an accelerating 'movement to the piston and the fluid in the conduits in one direction and abruptly bringing the piston to a rest at the end of its stroke when the accelerating movement of the piston reaches'a predetermined maximum speed so as to permit inertial movement of the fluid in one conduit, to induce a flow of fluid through the check valve into said conduit and the resultant inertial movement of thefluid in the other conduit to impact the piston and reverse the flow of the fluid. r a

12. An apparatus for pumping fluids; comprising a pair of'conduits'containing a fluid and balanced with relation to each other, one of said conduits being connected with a source of fluid supply, a check valve in said connection, a 7

cylinder connecting theconduits on the efiluent side of the check valves, a piston disposed in said cylinder, means for imparting an accelerating movement to the piston and the fluid in the conduits in one direction and abruptly bringing the piston to a rest at the end of its stroke when the accelerating movement of the piston reaches "a predetermined maximum speed so as to permit inertial movement of the fluid in one of the conduits to induce a flow of fluid through the check valve into said conduitandthe resultant inertial movement of the fluid in the other con-'- duit to impact the piston and reverse the flow of the fluid, and means returning the piston to its initial positionduring the period '13; An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a pair of conduits containinga fluid and balanced with relation to each other, a connection between each conduit and a source of maximum at the endof? each stroke.

of reverse flow fluid supply, a' check valve in each connection,

a cylinder connecting the con'duits on the efliui ent side of the check valves, a piston in said cylinder, and means. for imparting a gradual,

accelerating stroke to the piston in each direction followed bya period of rest at the end 01" each stroke; the speed of the piston reaching.

- 14. An apparatus-forpumping fluids'comprising 'a pair of conduits containing a fluidgand .balanced with relation-to-each other, a connec-,

tion between eachconduit and a source of fluid supply, a check valve in each connection, a cylinder connecting the conduits on the efiluent side of the checkvalves, a piston in said cylinder, and means for: imparting'a gradual accelerating stroke to the piston in each direction followed by a period of restatthe-end of eachstroke, the speed of the piston reaching maximum at the end of each strokewhereby a resurging movement of the-fluidin the conduits alternately takes place and imparts an impact blow against the piston to start the piston moving at the commencement of each stroke,

15. An apparatus for pumping fluids comprising a pair of conduits containing a fluid and balancediwith relation to each other, a connec tion between each conduit and a source of fluid? supply, a check valve in each connectionra cylinder connecting the conduits on the efiluent' 7 side of the check valves, a' piston in said cylinder, means for imparting first a fluidimpact', and then a gradual accelerating movement to' the'piston'inone directionand bringing the piston to an abrupt stopand to rest at the end of the stroke when maximum speed is reached and thenarsecond fluid impact followed by agradual accelerating movement in the opposite direction and bringing the piston to an abrupt stop and to rest at the end of the stroke maximum speed is reached. l

16. In a pumping system employing a are connected by a cylinder to balance the fluid in the conduits and in which the fluid is maintained in continuous oscillation in the conduits' by a piston reciprocably ,mounted in the" cylinder, a method of driving the piston and for in-' ducing the fiow of an additional H volume intermittently into each conduit, which consists in starting the movement of the piston in each direction by an impact blow alternately imparted when the pair of conduits filled with a fluid inwhich the conduits to the piston by resurging movement in each I conduit, imparting a gradual accelerating movement to the piston in each direction after it has beenstarted by'an impact blow, bringing the piston to an abrupt stop at the end of the stroke 7 when theaccelerating movement reaches a max imum speed, and intermittently utilizing inertial movement of the fluid in the respective conduits to induce the flow 01' an additional volume of fluid into said conduits from a source of supply.

1'7. In a pumping system employing two'constrained bodies of ,fluid, each body being connectedwith a source of supply and also connected with each other by a communicating cylinder adapted to balance the bodies and in which the bodies are maintained incontinuous oscillation by a piston reciprocably mounted in I the cylinder, amethod of driving the piston and for inducing the flow 0t an additional volume r i of fluid intermittently. into each body which con? sists in starting the movement of the piston in each directionby an impact blow alternately impartedto the piston by aresurging movement 75,

the energy of the inertial movement of each body of fluid respectively to induce the flow of an additional volume of fluid into the said bodies from a source of supply.

GEORGE K. PARKER. 

